The gel dryer is used for drying vertical slab gels and provide optimal drying for all types of gels. The dryers dry large gels up to 13.2 x 16.7" maximum (33.6 x 42.3 cm) or any combination of smaller gels for preservation or subsequent processing such as auto-radiography. The gels are heated from below and the vacuum removes the moisture from below to dry the gel homogeneously. When applying the vacuum by a membrane vacuum pump a groove that frames the drying surface provides an optimum tight seal during the drying period. All gel dryers are equipped with a timer to allow time controlled drying.